Camping chest



(Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.. O. B. RICE.

. GAMPING CHEST.

No. 336,347. Patented Feb. 13, 1886..

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3 Sheets-Sheet 1..

(ModeL) v 0. B. RICE.

UAMPING CHEST.

Patented Feb. 16, 1886.

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0. B. RICE.

CAMPING CHEST.

' (ModeL) Patented Feb. 16, 1886.

I (ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

O. B. RICE.

CAMPING CHEST.

' No. 336,347. Patented Feb. 16, 18865.,

JNVEJV'TOR, 2% v WITNESSES 0C @WMM fid/WW UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE.

CALVIN BACON RICE, OF EAST OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA-.

CAM PING-CH EST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,347, dated Pebrumy'lfl; 1886.

Application filed November 2, 1885. Serial No. 1R1,66'l. (Modem To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN B. RICE, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of East Oakland, in the county of Alameda and 5 State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Camping-Chests; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my imr proved camping-case folded out to form a table. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, showing it converted into a tent. Fig. 3 is a view of the closed case. Fig. 4 is a. longitudinal section of the closed case. Fig. 5 is a re transverse section of the same. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the case folded out to form a table. Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional view of the same on the line on m of Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the case converted into a tent.

, Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in all the figures.

My invention has relation to chests for camping purposes, which may be used as a ;o chest for packing necessary articles into, and

which at the same time may be used as a table, a tent, and as a seat by folding the parts of the chest out in dilferent manners; and it consists in the improved construct-ion and combination of parts of the same, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letters A A indicate the top and bottom pieces of the chest, each of which is provided with side 0 pieces, B B, and end pieces, 0, while the other ends are hinged to a common end piece, D, of a width equal to the combined widths of two of the side pieces, so that when the top and bottom portions are folded together, 5 swinging upon the hinges at the upper and lower edges of the common end piece, they will form a rectangular chest, as shown in Fig. 3. The end pieces, 0, are narrower than the side pieces, B B, so that when they are in place a slot, E, is formed across the end of each of the partsAA, through which the extensionpieces G G can be drawn when it is desired to makea table of agreater length than the length of the two parts A A. It'desired, groovesF can be formed in the sidepieces, B B, in which the sides of the extension'pieces will slide. The inner ends of these extension-pieces are provided with retaining-pins G, which prevent their being drawn out too far, and the inner ends of the parts A A are provided with cross brace-pieces Q Q, which prevent their being slipped in too far, and also serve to strengthen the chest.

Brace-pieces H H are hinged at one end to the ends of the side pieces of either the top or bottom portion, and are of the same length as the height of the common end piece, so that when the chest is open these pieces can be placed between the ends of the side pieces 3 and prevent the chest from folding together 76, when being used asa table. These pieces are held in position by means of the bolts J, sliding in grooves I, and have their inner ends bent to form handles K,which are turned into the notches L to keep them in their posil tions. The outer ends of these bolts engage with the staples or bails M in the side pieces of one of the parts A when they are pushed out. At each of the outer corners of the parts A A the pivoted legs S are secured, so that they can he swung outwardly when the chest has been opened. These legs fit into the outwardly-flaring notches W in the sides of the pieces B, which makes a secure support for the chest when being used as atable. The outer ends of two of these legs are provided with pivoted cross brace-pieces T, the free ends of which have perforations U,which en gage with the pinsVupon the free ends of the other two legs. At the inner ends of the side pieces of one of the parts A the legs N are pivoted, and fit into the outwardly-flaring notches 0, thus forming a support for the middle of the chest when it is opened. The outer ends of these legs are provided with a cross 5 brace-piece, P, and the pin R, similar to the cross brace-pieces T and the pins V on the outer ends of the legs at the ends of the chest.

The end pieces of the two portions are provided with headed pins X upon their inner sides near the legs having the brace-bars, so that the free ends of the said bars may be socured upon the pins when the said legs are folded out, and the end pieces are also provided with upwardly-projecting hooks Y.

A haminocl ,Z, is provided with rings A at its ends, which may be supported upon the' serves as a cover when the chest is converted into a tent.

When it is desired to convert the chestinto a table or tent which has sufiicientroom within it to contain all necessary camping utensils, bedclothing, clothing, and all other articles necessary, it is folded out and the swinging side pieces are folded out and secured by means of their bolts, so that the chest will form a long box open at its top. If it is now desired to use the chest as a seat, the box thus produced is simply turned with its side and end pieces projecting down, when it will form a long bench, or it is placed on edge,whichever,

way is most desirable; but when it is desired to use the chest as a table the legs are folded out and braced by their hinged arms and the entire table placed upon the ground. The extension-leaves may be drawn out, if desired, when a table four times the length of the chest is produced. I

When the chest is to be converted into a bed, the opened chest is placed with the top and bottom piece resting upon the ground and the swinging side pieces locked in place, in the same manner as when converting it into a table, and the legs at the ends having the hinged brace-arms are secured with their eyed ends upon the headed pins upon the end pieces,

' and the tent-cover may now be placed over the uprights thus formed, covering the entire box.

The hammock may be hooked with its rings over the hooks upon the end pieces, and will be supported above the bottom of the box and above the ground,aftbrding comfortable sleeping accommodations for one or more persons, according to the size of the chest.

It will thus be seen that the chest, besides affording room for packing any desired articles into it, may be converted into a table, a

tent, or a seat or bench, thus making a convenient article for camping or mining parties, only occupying comparatively little space and being capable of being folded out to provide large space for either of the purposes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim I and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. The combination of a common end piece, a top part pivotally secured to one edge thereof, and a bottom part pivotally secured to the other edge, each of said parts being provided with two side pieces and only one end piece, as shown and described. 1

2. The combination of acommon end piece, a top part pivotally secured to one edge thereof, a bottom part pivotally secured to the other edge, each of said parts being provided with two side pieces and only one end piece, the inner ends of two of the side pieces being provided with a brace-piece pivotally secured thereto, each of said brace-pieces being provided with a sliding bolt, and the inner ends of the other two side pieces being provided with a staple or catch, as shown and described.

3; The combination of a common end piece, a top part pivotally secured to one edge thereof, and a bottom part pivotally secured to the other edge, each of said parts being provided -extension-piece having pins at its inner end sliding in said slots, and suitable supporting- I legs, as shown and described.

4. The combination of a common end piece, a top part pivotally secured to one edge thereof, and a bottom part pivotally secured to the other edge, each of said parts being provided with two side pieces and only one end piece, 1

a brace-piece pivotally secured to the side pieces of one of said parts and engaging with the ends of the side pieces of the other part, said side pieces being also provided with out wardly-flaring notches upon their inner sides, a supporting-leg pivotally secured at each of said notches and fitting therein, the outer ends of half of said legs being provided with brace-rods, the opposite ends of which are each provided with an aperture, and the outer ends of the other half of said legs being provided with pins, as shown and described.

5. The combination of a common end piece, a top part pivotally secured to one edge thereof, and a bottom part pivotally secured to the other edge, each of said parts being provided with two. side pieces and only one end piece, a brace-piece pivotally secured to the ends of the side pieces of one of said parts and engaging with the side pieces of the other part, each of said end pieces being provided with a pin and a series of hooks, one side of each of said parts being provided with a pivoted leg and brace-rod secured to the outer end thereof, a tent-cover secured thereon, said cover being provided with two side flaps and two triangular end pieces? and a hammock swung upon said hooks in "said end pieces, as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GA LVIN BACON RICE.

\Vitnesses:

W. O. BOYLAN, HENRY WARREN DOMES. 

